GoKawiil
Tech News
Hershey has announced its product lineup for the 2026 holiday season, combining newly introduced treats with the return of previously popular seasonal items. The announcement comes shortly after Halloween, signaling the company's early push into holiday marketing.
Candy prices have risen 44% since 2021 amid a worsening shortage of cocoa beans, driven by crop disease, poor harvests and climate pressures in West Africa. In response, separate groups of food innovators are developing chocolate substitutes that reduce or eliminate reliance on traditional cocoa beans.
Unreal Snacks CEO Kevin McCarthy, who joined the company in 2014 at age 22, described how the better-for-you chocolate brand recovered from overexpansion by shrinking to 38 stores before rebuilding to 35,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. He also detailed a company perk giving employees unlimited access to free chocolate.
Kevin McCarthy, CEO of Unreal Snacks, discussed the company's rise from three employees in 2014 to becoming the largest better-for-you chocolate brand in the U.S., now sold in 35,000 stores. He explained that the company scaled back distribution from 34,000 to just 38 stores early in his tenure to fix operational issues before rebuilding, and highlighted an unlimited candy-buying perk offered to employees.
National Chocolate Day is observed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, prompting various retailers and chains to roll out freebies and discounts on chocolate items. The occasion is being promoted as a chance for consumers to indulge in chocolate-based treats and deals offered that day.
Nate Saal, founder of chocolate-making device company CocoTerra, successfully cultivated cacao trees in Northern California, a region outside the plant's typical tropical range. He used indoor growing methods, including pots, controlled warmth and filtered sunlight, to compensate for the area's cooler climate. The approach demonstrates that home cultivation of cacao is achievable outside tropical zones with the right setup.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $4.1 billion on candy this Halloween, part of $13.5 billion in total seasonal spending, even as candy and gum prices rise 8.1% year-over-year. PwC data cited by NBC News shows chocolate packages now average $5.67, up 15.5%, driven largely by poor cocoa harvests in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Penguin Young Readers is releasing a set of special-edition children's books this fall featuring decorative touches like gold foil, glitter, and sprayed edges. One edition, a new version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, includes a physical Golden Ticket insert packaged with the book.